Travolta, Schwarzenegger films headed to TIFF

TORONTO - John Travolta, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dustin Hoffman are among the stars with new films headed to the Toronto International Film Festival.

The festival unveiled dozens of movies Tuesday that are set to screen at the annual movie marathon, including seven new galas and 17 additional special presentations.

Travolta stars alongside Christopher Plummer in Philip Martin's "The Forger," a drama about a former art prodigy and thief who buys his way out of prison to spend time with his ailing son.

"Maggie" features Schwarzenegger as a Midwestern farmer whose daughter (Abigail Breslin) turns into a cannibalistic zombie, while Hoffman and Kathy Bates star in "Boychoir," about an orphaned 12-year-old boy who struggles to succeed at a prestigious music school.

Also screening at the fest are "Clouds of Sils Maria," starring Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart; "Ruth & Alex," with Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton; "Madame Bovary," as played by Mia Wasikowska; and Thomas McCarthy's "The Cobbler," featuring Adam Sandler as a shoe repairman.

The director's cut of "Human Highway," Neil Young and Dean Stockwell's 1982 absurd musical comedy, is also joining the line-up. (Young directed the film under the name Bernard Shakey.)

Rounding out the major titles announced Tuesday are: Cedric Jimenez's "The Connection," starring Jean Dujardin of "The Artist"; Andrea Di Stefano's "Escobar: Paradise Lost," featuring Josh Hutcherson and Benicio del Toro; and "Infinitely Polar Bear," with Mark Ruffalo as a father struggling to keep his family together while dealing with manic depression.

The film festival also announced it is featuring eight films from South Korea in its sixth annual City to City program, including July Jung's "A Girl At My Door" and Boo Ji-Young's "Cart."

Thirty-six short films from 29 countries will screen in the inaugural Short Cuts International Program, including new Claire Denis short "Here is the Concatenation."

“From politically and socially provocative narratives, to aesthetically compelling animation and profoundly moving documentaries, the works in Short Cuts International are vigorous and vital films showcasing unique, yet universal, stories about the human condition," said Shane Smith, director of special projects.

In the Contemporary World Cinema program, 51 films including features from Pascale Ferran, Jessica Hausner, Rolf de Heer, Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz, Celine Sciamma and Sepideh Farsi are set to unspool.

Thirteen features and 33 short films were added to the festival's Wavelengths program, which focuses on experimental cinema, while five movies will be featured in TIFF Cinematheque's restored classics series.

Last week, the festival announced its Canadian line-up, featuring films from Xavier Dolan, Sturla Gunnarsson, Alanis Obomsawin and Jeffrey St. Jules.